Ouch! How to avoid the pain of whiplash

Whiplash is one of the most common injuries sustained by drivers and passengers involved in road accidents.

Such injuries normally arise from the fact that the occupants of vehicles are unprepared for the force of impact in a collision.

However, there are ways drivers can minimise the likelihood of serious injury by taking a few safety-related and precautionary measures.

It is important to keep a good distance between your car and the car in front, so that you can slow down gently when you need to.

Except in an emergency, always look in the mirror before braking.

Knowing what the car behind is doing is the best way to avoid getting hit from behind.

Make sure you have a properly adjusted head restraint. The top of the head restraint should be level with the top of your head for maximum safety.

Anticipate the traffic ahead and drive to avoid stopping as often slowing down earlier gives the driver behind more time to react.

Try to signal early for junctions to give time for the traffic behind you to react.

Keep your foot lightly on the footbrake as traffic approaches from behind to show brake lights as a warning, until you are sure it is stopping.

The rise in whiplash compensation claims is driving up car insurance.

Apart from avoiding injury, drivers can also avoid a hit to insurance premiums by following the safety advice.